When kids go back to school this fall, Richmond RCMP corporal Christy Veenstra will be there to welcome them back.
Veenstra and five other local police officers are part of the RCMP high school liaison program.
The program is primarily designed to build strong relationships between police and youth to induce the students to become responsible members of society.
We are also expected to be role models for the students, said Veenstra, adding the officers try to get to each school at least once a week or more.
We try to be a friendly presence in the school and break down barriers between the police and youth.
A lot of us go into the classrooms to speak to the students, hear their concerns and counsel them, as well as walk down the halls just to chat with them.
The program is two-fold.
Besides building good relations with the students, we deal with anything to do with the students going to school, at the school and after school, she said, adding she is also in charge of the program.
So if a student leaves home heading for school and they dont show up, it is our responsibility to deal with it.
As well, any criminal activity that occurs in the school falls under the school liaison officers jurisdiction.
We act as a resource for the school authorities in matters of drug prevention and school violence, she added.
Besides ensuring the high schools are safe for its students, the officers bring a variety of public safety and crime prevention programs to the students, staff and parents.
On the education side of things, the officers teach the D.A.R.E. program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) to every Grade 5 student in Richmond.
In the high schools, we make class presentations on a variety of topics, including Internet safety, gangs, drugs and a number of other topics, added the 15-year RCMP veteran.
We also promote policing as a career choice for students.
We are all in this because we really enjoy working with youth.
The program must be doing something right many of the liaison officers were invited to the high school graduation ceremonies this year.
Meanwhile, the school liaison officers are also working on setting up its new Safe School program, to be implemented in both the elementary and secondary schools throughout Richmond.
In case of another Columbine tragedy happening here, we are putting a strategic plan in place, Veenstra said.
For more information about the school liaison program, visit www.richmond.ca/safety/police/prevention/children/youth.htm.
